Why Did the Battles of Lexington and Concord Happen?
The Battles of Lexington and Concord, which took place on April 19, 1775, were the first military conflicts between the Colonial rebel forces and Great Britain during the Revolutionary War, and they were brought about as a result of growing tension, Colonial militarization and a British desire to prevent militaristic push back. The Patriot forces managed to hold off British forces and protect their cache of weapons, which were stored in Concord, Mass., opening the door to further conflict and eventual victory.
After the tension-building events of the Boston Tea Party and the Boston Massacre, tension in the American Colonies was high, and British authorities were well aware of the fact that there were growing factions of Colonists who wished to separate from British authority and become independent. This separation would require military force, and the Colonists would need to build an army that could defeat the well armed, established and trained British forces. They began stockpiling weapons, and the main British motivation during the Battles of Lexington and Concord was to seize these weapons in order to prevent further militarization. This effort failed, and the American Independence movement gained invaluable momentum as a result. Not only did they win the first conflict in the war, but they also managed to save their weapons.
